AVS Discussions
Movie and TV Discussion => Movie reviews => Topic started by: David Vaughn on September 28, 2022, 04:47:06 PM
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(https://i.imgur.com/t4B13rJ.jpg)
Studio: Paramount
Release Date: September 27, 2022
Rating: Not Rated
Film: 4/5
Plot
From the minds of Yellowstone co-creator and Academy Award nominee Taylor Sheridan and Hug Dillon, “Mayor of Kingstown” follows the McLusky family, power brokers in Kingstown, Michigan, where the business of incarceration is the only thriving industry. Tackling themes of systemic racism, corruption and inequality, the series provides a stark look at their attempt to bring order and justice to a town that has neither.
My Thoughts
I’m at the point now that I’ll watch anything that Sheridan has touched because I seem to like his storytelling style. That being said, I don’t agree with all of the subject matters that he brings up in his productions, but they do provide compelling thought. This show premiered on Paramount+ and an episode was release weekly last fall starting in November and they ran through mid-January of this year.
First and foremost, this show is violent—very violent. Its subject matter revolves around corruption at all levels in the city of Kingstown and every crooked constituency is looking for their slice of the profit pie. The McLusky brothers are there to keep the peace and move the chess pieces around the board by offering advice and guidance to each of the different elements—whether it’s the police, DA’s office, the prison guards, or the various racial gangs in the city and in the local prison as well. Sometimes they take his advice and other times they go lone wolf—things don’t generally end well when they go it alone.
Overall, I’ve enjoyed the show, but after every episode I find myself having to watch something “happy,” in order to cleanse my mind of the corruption and violence. This is a gritty and powerful show and Jeremy Renner is simply fantastic in the lead role. He brings his character to life and believe it or not, has a moral compass that pegs in the proper direction. His best characteristic is his word—if he says he’ll do something, he does. Plain and simple.
The presentation is about what you’d expect from a TV show, although the cinematography is a bit more “movie like” versus something like “Law and Order.” The audio track helps tell the story and there’s quite a bit of ambiance in the various on-site locations such as the local prison and especially in the strip club—the visuals there are quite a sight as well.
Video 4.5/5 (AVC)
Audio 4.5/5 (Dolby TrueHD 5.1)
Special Features:
- Behind the Story segments for each episode
- Perdition: Making “Mayor of Kingstown”
- Zero Sum Game: The Finale
- Inside “Mayor of Kingstown”
- Character Spots
- Cast Favorite Scenes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhmIVF2dTbI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhmIVF2dTbI)
Conclusion
This show won’t be for everyone, but if you like gritty crime shows like The Wire and The Sopranos, it’s cut in the same vein. Like Tony Soprano, Mike is very likable, but he has his own demons that he’s fighting, but I grew to like him more and more as the show went along. The “street justice” that’s dispensed in the show is quite graphic, but it fits into the themes of the show, and I didn’t find it to be gratuitous in any way. If this is your cup of tea, then be sure to check it out either on Blu-ray or Paramount+.
Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 88” 16x9 Fixed Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
JL Audio F110 (X2 co-located and bridged as one sub)
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
M&K Sound X15+ Subwoofer
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner